Euro or bust....

A whirlwind of summer hit hard and fast after Donovan Boy's graduation from 8th grade... Flying out to europe to visit family in the UK, friends and new places in northern Italy and just playing around in Paris, we were fortunate to have such lovely weather, great food and company to go with our very sore feet and legs each day!

Donovan boy age 15!!

The Cutty Sark in Greenwich, London in full glory!!

A wonderful bike ride out to Monet's House and Gardens...truly inspiring!

Great place to soak sore feet in Paris at the end of the day....

The quaintest village in Piemont, I think we were the only guests....

Upon our return, work and jetlag hit at the same time, so only now a couple of weeks after getting back are we finding a more relaxed rhythm. We have the good fortune to have our nephew from New York visit us for a week and the boys really had fun with him also!

Whilst I'm hankering for another get away in a tent somewhere, it seems that high school may start in the middle of August and so we may have to wait until later now.... we have yet to completely find the perfect high school in La La Land, but have faith that the right opportunity will present itself soon.

What's your favourite??

This is an age old game to play with yourself or others and perfect for getting to know someone, far better than ticking 'likes' on FB - I played this on my first real date with my now husband, of 17th years - yes the Hairy One - and we still argue about how well we THINK we know each other!

 The uniqueness of each of us, yea all 7 billion or thereabouts, can be cross referenced, shuffled and coerced into useless forms of information, but maybe this is just for the fun of it...those who know me are probably not surprised, those who thought they knew me may be disapponted or even possibly disgusted, one can only hope to entertain the notion that anybody may be reading this and therefore how accurate is it really?
 Feel free to play yourself, cut and paste even on FB if you really want it to used in some marketing to yourself..

So here goes...

1. Sweeties? Uk rubbish like Refreshers, lemon bon bons and fortnum's marshmellow
2. or choc?   love good dark choc with caramel!
3. Can't help but dance? Radiohead
4. Rock out?    Led Zep!   
5. Fav current band?   The Black Keys
6. Fav old band?  The Charlatans
7. Colour - top three in order?  Green, Purple and Black
8. Last meal on earth would be? Indian all the way
9. Summer time drink? Oh dearie, G & T with a twist of lime!
10. Winter time drink? - Has to be Wassail or warmed port!
11. Everyday drink? - Water and grapefuit juice
12. Friends since?  Top Marks known since 5!1973!
13. Best country visited? Indonesia for sure!
14. Awesome food store? Fortnums for special stuff or Sprouts everyday
15. Great clothes? Bryn Walker and Anthropologie
16. Funniest movie? Bridesmaids
17. Saddest movie?  Schindlers List
18. All time movie? The Princess Bride
19. Best TV show? Star Trek
20. Smells like? Indian Rose oil
21. Great Poetry by?  William Wordsworth and POE
22. Book that changed your life? The Stars My Destination
23. Great day out would be? Korean spa and sleeping under a tree

yep just 23.....another game you can play all day.

Weather be true. Lion or Lamb?

“If March comes in like a lion, it will go out like a lamb?”

I often wonder about the truth of folk lore, specifially weather lore, for I am a self professed storm- chaser and get quite excited at the prospect of what I like to refer to as 'high weather'! My children of course think I'm a little screwy but one must know thyself ( even if some things don't make sense!)

I wonder if many sayings are based on careful observation or are even accurate or merely the bountiful beliefs of suspicious heretics! The people that came before us truly believed that bad spirits could affect the weather and crops and they were overtly cautious.

This would seem like a fun rhyme and while I get my tornado watch on....here are some other fun sayings to ponder!

A dry March and a wet May? Fill barns and bays with corn and hay.

As it rains in March so it rains in June.

March winds and April showers? Bring forth May flowers.

11th Hour!

Dear Little Gandalf,

You will always remain youthful to me, your flowing locks may grey in time, and wisdom may well imbue your being in the far future, but for now, you remain my little boy. In true joy I watch you grow strong, explore your expanding world, and find your inner self! You make us laugh out loud everyday and sometimes we can't help but exclaim unrepeatable words.... but we love you forever and today we remember the special day that is your birth day.

Happy Birthday, now you are 11

And another one gone...

Archetype Mother's Mantle

 So another one bites the dust...a year that is, since the last time Donovan Boy and I snuggled up on the eve of his birthday to hear yet another telling (14) of the story of his arrival! Not really the same ethereal story we tell in the Waldorf kinder/nursery, but more a re-telling of wonderment, surprise and memories of before during and after his birth. It's amazing how many times I tell it, it's never dull or even the same parts that are highlighted, so maybe over the years, he will get a fuller picture from the snippets mustered and magically the story becomes a living reality!

I am now just writing the birthday story I will use in this years' Daisy nursery and I can picture the children's faces as we weave the wistful pictures of guardian angels, heavenly children visiting the Sun, moon and planets whilst waiting to find their perfect Mama's and Papa's on earth. Believe it or no, it doesn't matter, because they know the truth of it and the story speaks to their hearts in love and comfort - who can argue with that philosophy?

Crazy Cupcake Cake blazing for 14th

So many birthdays to celebrate and first to note is Montgomery Felix ( not a code name!) my dear little nephew so far away and still with some hurdles to overcome, but I'm sure his journey will be filled with love, hope, comfort and many joys - can't wait to hold you Monty!!

Secondly and just as important are the birthdays of elders. Let's not forget the fact that they too will enjoy the fruits of your labours if given the chance ( spending time with grand kids/parents). Dear AnnieMac will be having her umpteenth this weekend, and yes - we will eat cake on her behalf!

Lastly, Little Gandalf will get his own post about the upcoming beach bash to bring him into elevenses fully and yet another birthday story is forming....

A surprise addition to our Summer nature table....truly interactive!

late notice: Happy Birthday Royal Boy Baby, we are betting on James Philip being some names to choose from..... update* so I guess we lost the bet!!!

Not just a Sunday

Mothers Day. Some years I dread it, others I try to ignore it altogether ( UK version is in March), but this one feels different. I cannot call her, see her, smell her or touch her anymore, however I will choose to honour her, remember her, forgive her and love her. Shirley Anne Morris gave me many lovely childhood memories, was horrible at telling jokes, but always made us laugh with her  willingness to act out, sing too loudly in the car and pull silly faces. She gave me life against many odds, kept me safe and loved me when it was hard to do so, thank you Mum.

I am happy to light a memorial candle for you Mum and day dream about the happy days and maybe this year I will be able to see your face, smell your skin, hear your voice and remember your touch through my dreams and inner quiet.

That will be a Mothers Day gift indeed.

Mum and Quinn in the garden 197 something....

Happy after Rossi's faces!

Donovan Boy and Phoenix dance at the Temple Bar

Little Gandalf and Phoenix in Topanga

May Faire pic for Mum by Muppes

Egging on Spring

Spring has truly sprung around here, the outside window tree is filling in with fresh green leaves; the chattering squirrels are chasing and fighting over mates, the hummingbird nests are brimming with tiny eggs whilst  Pesach and Easter are upon us all of a sudden!!

As a family who love to celebrate everything, we are excited about spending some Spring break time doing a small home camp with egg related activities galore!




From wood worked painted eggs and swords to home made bath balls and easter bread, we hope our egg-stravanganza of spring will be felt by all who attend!

Felted 3d scene Spring 2009

Past or Present?

Now that my body has struggled out of the ashes of boring sickness, ( you too eh?) I am now starting to feel that Spring is on it's way and mustering what energies I have budding, I had hoped by now that my artistic muses were back in full reflective force...but what the hey? I am having a hard time getting my brain around the deluge of fear based images, false fame via various routes of electronic media and balancing the rising costs of basic living. Sure I know, I'm getting older, this is not my time, cliche cliche etc etc. but, I am a mother, I teach children and it's part of my job to know the world. This time is mine too and I am not one to rest in the past too much or think it better in some way;  things change, look forward to what is new, innovative and useful. There is certainly plenty that's yet to be discovered.

Increasingly drawn to deeper more meaningful experiences, or a wish to leave behind all that does not generally benefit the good (this is for sure my age talking). Sure we all need to make money, but do we need to really share all our mundane moments online? Yet here I am doing just that, blogging, without anything truly to say, but who reads it anyway? Is this more like a diary that gets discovered by someone and reads it anyhow? Is this the moment of secret sharing that goads the guilt experience?

Little Gandalf (sings) and Donovan Boy (guitar) at Rockband 2012

Back to shallow sharing.....Donovan Boy will not stop....the 13 year old deep voice echos the once full sentence, now reduced to the one teenage word answer - ok or good; eating tons; reading in a locked room, but still sweet and happy, goodness knows how it all ends! Little Gandalf sings all day, feelstylin' he calls it, sometimes inspired, but mostly just finding a way to get the last word on everything! We continue to break many rules where we live, those we feel are useless and arbitary, more than one animal, larger tank than allowed ( for turtles) and more guests than allowed at the pool are some regular ones...oh yes there are many more!!

I am wanting to make some new felted art for a show in June, a school art show and possibility for a donation to a silent auction. The last one is hard for me, as I have had many pieces donated and sold for far less than I'm comfortable with, which devalues the work in the long run. Must write more on book......make things for book. List that never changes....maybe one day.

Winter mini scape 2013

wishing you a blessed day. Happy Birthday Mum, RIP

Summer Daze

A whirlwind of summer hit hard and fast after Donovan Boy's graduation from 8th grade... Flying out to europe to visit family in the UK, friends and new places in northern Italy and just playing around in Paris, we were fortunate to have such lovely weather, great food and company to go with our very sore feet and legs each day!

Donovan boy age 15!!

The Cutty Sark in Greenwich, London in full glory!!

A wonderful bike ride out to Monet's House and Gardens...truly inspiring!

Great place to soak sore feet in Paris at the end of the day....

The quaintest village in Piemont, I think we were the only guests....

Upon our return, work and jetlag hit at the same time, so only now a couple of weeks after getting back are we finding a more relaxed rhythm. We have the good fortune to have our nephew from New York visit us for a week and the boys really had fun with him also!

Whilst I'm hankering for another get away in a tent somewhere, it seems that high school may start in the middle of August and so we may have to wait until later now.... we have yet to completely find the perfect high school in La La Land, but have faith that the right opportunity will present itself soon.

Among Giants

As the summer started to swelter, August found us heading for the hills, (mountains really) and certainly being unplugged for a number of days was a breathe of fresh air!  Unreachable by anything other than walking feet, smoke signals or other clever wilderness device (or passing car indeed!), we joyously camped among the giants - Sequoias that is.

nestled

Cooking only by fire, gathering locally felled dry wood and timber, handmade fire starters (recipe below) and home-prepped pouches of fare warmed our bellies by night. The Hairy One, Donovan Boy and Little Gandalf spent late afternoons reading, whittling, wading and watching, whilst I napped, sketched and stretched my thoughts to the fading light.

spotted snacking on pine

Super hikes to the deepest depths of crystal caves, the highest highs of Moro Rock brought us to the sharpness of our senses. Our catching breathe only to spot eight bears in one day!! Some were a close encounter of the very hairy and hungry kind, but none ventured into camp thankfully! Maybe my crazy new evening head-wear scared them off?

Stunning crystal cave

Vista from Moro Rock peak


Nonetheless, the family hugged (as a group) super giant trees, whether they be reaching the skies, felled by winds or age or even deeply scarred by elements long since gone, they all gained our deep respect and wonder.

Trying to span for a hug....

The underside of the Buttress

Failsafe Firestarter!
cardboard egg cartons, dryer lint, cotton wool balls, paraffin wax or old candle wax, newspaper.

1. melt wax slowly in double boiler - an old sauce can (wax inside) placed in a pan of water
2. stuff cotton wool balls and dryer lint into each empty egg hole 
3. place onto several sheets of newspaper to catch drips or seepage
4. pour wax over each hole until it's at the top and the dry stuff is wet!
5. let it cool, close lid, keep dry and away from fire until needed. 
6. Just tear off a couple and place under kindling to get your fire going quickly!

Woolly Wilderness

I think I've found the perfect spot to wear my newly aquired woolly art-hat creation ( thank you to Girl with a Hook) -  in Kings Canyon! Whilst looking around for a suitable spot to spend a few days dodging bears, we decided on Kings Canyon Wilderness .  I'm quite sure the bears will appreciate the loveliness of my understated evening wear while we camp there this Summer!

On another note, I am now not relocating to San Diego to assume a new teaching position...long story short.....we are staying in Los Angeles for now. Little Gandalf is rather pleased to be returned to his classmates and super energetic and creative teacher - for that I am so grateful. Dear Donovan Boy will start anew with Westside Waldorf School in 7th grade no less, so we are looking forward to many long rides and talks over to Sunset Blvd! I am still looking for my long term home as a teacher, but have my hot Waldorf certification in hand and will be pursuing deeper waldorf study soon.

Projects looming for me to chase down lots of artistic endeavours are...lazuring my living room and gallery corridor - pics to come later....wooly workshops in August in between some sand castle creations ala Malibu beaches...and of course the quet to finish my fuzzy felted version of Kandinsky's Farbstudie Quadrante.....explored in full fuzziness, depth and dye....

It's been Grand..

Well, it's been so long since I posted, even blogger has changed it's format!  The first part of the year has been a whirlwind of sometimes frustrating, 'up-in-the-air-ness' no matter what the area of life. For someone, who could not inaccurately, be called a control freak, this was quite a challenge for me to - let go....but through perseverance, some meditation and lots of dark chocolate, I feel the lightness once again and a new path has become clear.

Wet Felted Tapestry with story pockets......made with Suzanne Down ;-)

 Our family undertook quite a collective journey when I entered the Waldorf teacher training program three years ago and now with graduation looming this May, we carefully looked to several options for next year in my teaching career. Cut long arduous story short, I was offered a position at The Waldorf School of San Diego as their newest first grade teacher! Woo Hoo! Here's the odd thing though, we had been looking to move there a few years ago and it was just not lining up, so this is a welcome move be it the harder physical one.

View from Eagle Point

 To celebrate a few months of very hard work and exhaustion, The Hairy One and I decided a 3 day music festival, which happened to fall upon my birthday and close to our 15th year anniversary was just the thing...so now back from Coachella, which was full of great sets from bands I either loved/didn't know but liked very much/still don't know the name but loved. Being among crowds of very peaceful music loving people warmed the cockles and let me forget the super-grown-up-stuff for a minute.


That coupled with a great trip to the Grand Canyon for Spring Break, really has me ready to start making lists....more to come...and a couple of workshops coming up soon too..

Quite Happy in dusty solitude

Little Gandalf trying out Native American shelter

Guano Point - Grand Canyon West 2012

 Donovan Boy is excited to have his own room and the possibility of new friends and freedom, Little Gandalf is less enamoured about leaving his "whole life" behind, but he's not really wrong, only a two hour jaunt away. I am very excited to meet my new set of parents and I am contemplating writing my first story for the children already!

Cabins on the rim, cowboy style!

Candlemas and a half....

The more minor festivals of the year are always fascinating to me, as they are rarely celebrated by one and all, and many are not aware that there are other notable events that happen. Astrologically speaking, Candlemas or Groundhog Day - Feb 2nd marks the midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox.  To mark this auspicious day The Hairy One likes to organise a Groundhog Day jam if possible and I like to dip or roll beeswax candles and then light as many as I can bear and contemplate the unfolding of the flickering lights and it's shadows..

 

If Candlemas be mild and gay,
Go saddle your horses and buy them hay;
But if Candlemas be stormy and black,
It carries the winter away on its back. –proverb

As the light grows longer
The cold grows stronger
If Candlemas be fair and bright
Winter will have another flight
If Candlemas be cloud and rain
Winter will be gone and not come again
A farmer should on Candlemas day
Have half his corn and half his hay
On Candlemas day if thorns hang a drop
You can be sure of a good pea crop

Good Health to all this 2012!!

What a busy busy time the end of 2011 was, with so many festivals, faires and relatives coming and going since Thanksgiving! We are so thankful to have been able to host all our visitors and will now say adieu to the Admiral who has found another ship to stay on!! (But I'm sure the wafting cooking smells will lure him back sometimes....)

Once again we will Wassail tonight with all those who dare to join us for the hot bowl of apple cider, a little spice and some getting rid of all the chocalate left in the house!! Every year we clear out all the sugar on Jan 5th/6th and stay off it until at least Feb 14th! by the time the second week comes around I can safely say that cherries and strawberries are so darn sweet, I can hardly believe it!

For those who care to know what on earth Wassail is...please listen to this carefully......enjoy!

Terra Firma Q's

How lovely are your curves, 

How is it that you spin so freely?

Do the poles meet somewhere in space?

How old are your craggs?

How many times have you turned?

How do you stay current?

How do I clean you effectively and heal your scars?

How much did you cost?

How are the mice?